- Chapter 51 - (Mostly) Fluffy Soulmate Stuffy -
Warnings: Abuse, nightmares, fluff
Modern/Soulmate AU
Third Person POV

Soulmates.

Albert had one.

A dirty, blonde haired, blue eyed, Italian boy.

He, at least his child self, was really cute.

The Soulmate effect worked in weird ways.

Albert's connection with his soulmate was that they could meet up while they were sleeping, or, if one of them denied the first option, their dreams were the other's memories.

Most nights were nightmares for Albert.

His poor Soulmate had gone through so much abuse that Albert was so worried he kept searching up his Soulmate's name and looking everywhere to find him.

He just couldn't find him.

It was worrying Albert.

As Albert closed his eyes, he prayed that tonight he had a good dream.

Then, he drifted off.

"Mamma," a soft voice cries, clinging to their mother's hand.

Their mother's weak head turns to face them, her smile soft and weak.

Her face was pale and her eyes were bloodshot.

The small boy, six year old Antonio, cries.

Tears streamed down his face as he pleaded for his mother not to die.

His mother takes his hand softly. "Toni," she starts, her voice barely a breath. "I love you."

There was so much more she had wanted to say, but she couldn't.

Antonio stares at her, his eyes widening when her eyes close.

"Mom!" He shouts, trying to shake her awake. "Mamma! Please! No!" He exclaims.

Tears stream down his face, his sobs being the only sound in the room.

A nurse stood in the doorway, staring sadly at him while she shook her head softly.

There had been nothing they could do for his mother.

The heart monitor flatlined.

Albert shoots up in his bed.

He was drenched in sweat and tears stung his eyes.

He didn't even know this boy (in ways) and he was crying over the death of his mother.

Albert falls back on his bed.

He was only becoming more determined to find this boy.

And when he did, he going to help him, and hold him forever and tell him that he was loved.

If he wants to be held, Albert's mind adds.

He nods to himself.

Consent is crucial.

Time skip

Albert lays in bed, praying that tonight his soulmate will finally let them meet in their dreams.

Albert always wanted to, but it never happened.

It was always these nightmares of all the torture and trauma the kid, Antonio, went through.

He wasn't sure he could take it anymore.

Albert turns over, closing his eyes.

In a few minutes, he was fast asleep.

Albert wakes up in a different place than he usually was in.

He looks around.

He was in a park.

It was night there.

He grins to himself. I'm finally meeting him!

Albert heard a stick break.

He turns around, finding an older version of the blue-eyed boy he dreamed about every night.

The boy looks at him, fear in his eyes.

He was beaten and bloody.

It made Albert worry even more.

Antonio had a black eye, many scars on him, and burn marks on his neck, never mind the blood on his dirty and ripped clothes.

Albert smiles softly. "Hi." He greets, almost gently.

"Hi." The boy whispers in responds, his nerves being obvious.

"I've- uh- wanted to meet you for a while." Albert tells him softly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Sorry." The boy mutters, playing with the cuffs of his sleeves. "I'm sorry I didn't accept. I'm sorry you had to see my memories every night." He whispers. "I can only imagine what memories you saw..."

Albert sighs softly. "You don't have to be scared of me," he tells him. "I want to help you. It killed me to see what you went through." He whispers.

Antonio bites his lip, tears stinging his eyes.

Albert stepped forward to give the younger boy a hug, but the word started fading away before he could get to him.

Albert stares at him, his eyes wide.

He didn't want to lose him. He had finally gotten to him.

"Where can I find you tomorrow?" Albert asks hastily. "I promise I can help!" He started getting more panicked.

Antonio looked panicked as well. "Central Park in Manhattan. 3pm." His voice was so quiet that Albert almost didn't hear him.

Albert didn't have time to nod when they both faded away with the dream world.

Albert woke up.

It was the one time he didn't want to wake up.

He quickly got up.

It was a Sunday, 9am, and his grandmother was calling him from downstairs.

"Coming, Gram!" Albert shouts, quickly getting up.

Central Park, Manhattan. 3pm. Albert recites in his mind.

Part of him felt giddy.

The other part felt worried.

But he was finally going to meet his soulmate in real life.

"Albert!" He heard his grandmother shout again, shaking him out of his thoughts.

"I promise I'm coming!" Albert shouts back.

Only 6 hours.

If Albert had waited years to meet him, he could wait six hours, even if it felt like forever.

Central Park
Later in the day

Albert sits on a bench in the park, swinging his feet.

He check his watch every other second minutes.

Less than a minute till 3.

He was starting to get a little nervous.

Not even a minute later, an alarm went off on his watch, signaling that it was 3pm.

Albert bites his lip. What if-

No.

Don't think like that.

He might just be late. You know what his home life is like.

Albert heard sticks breaking.

It reminded him of when he met Antonio in the dream the night before.

Albert looks up.

Antonio was stumbling towards him, tears streaming down his face.

His shirt was all bloody, and he had more bruises and burn marks on him than he had in the dream the night before.

Albert immediately shot up.

He caught his soulmate as he collapsed.

Albert pulls him to his chest, stabilizing him.

Antonio was leaning mostly on Albert, not having the energy or strength to hold himself up.

He just sobbed into Albert's shoulder as Albert held him.

Albert whispers comforts, trying to help as much as he could.

After a few minutes, the smaller and younger boy's crying lessened.

His breathing slowed into a calm rhythm, signaling to Albert that he was asleep.

Albert picks him up gently. "Don't worry, love," he presses a soft kiss to his forehead. "I promise I will never let you go back there." He whispers.

Albert starts running to Jack's house, unconscious Antonio in his arms.

He needed to get help and quickly, and he couldn't go to the police.

The best idea was to go to Jack's house.

He'd know what to do, cause honestly Albert was feeling a little clueless.

And worried.

He was very worried.

1256 Words
I have a lot of requests as of right now lol.
- Tommy boy x Henry x Finch (this will be a Soulmate AU)
- Part 2 of 'What if Spot never joined?'
- More 'What if' stuff
- Spralbert with Trans. Race
- Javid Canon Era
- Davey x Crutchie baking stuff
I'll get these out as soon as possible lol, but we are in the middle of switching rooms in my house.

By the way, I posted a really cute Ralbert one-shot in my 'Musical Newsies' book. I hate the past writing in it (the book), but love the one-shot. (It's chapter 16, if anyone cares lol.)